Inspiring Conversations with Dietra Hudson of HudMama Holistic Birth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dietra Hudson.

Hi Dietra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I became a Birth Doula in 2016 after the birth of my first son. My plan was to have an unmedicated hospital birth, with just the support of my husband. I had read all the popular natural birth books and we took Bradley Method classes. I went into labor the day before my due date and labored all through the night in the quiet peace of my home. But when it was time to head to the hospital, my flight or fight response kicked in. The rest of my labor was painful, as I felt scared and was tensing against the process of birth. I did give birth to my son with no pain medication, but I did not feel empowered. I felt confused, weak and was questioning my ability to mother. I struggled to breastfeed and had postpartum depression. I started therapy when my son was six months old and learned I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I remember having a moment while driving, where I made a serious decision to either continue to be a victim of my circumstance or turn it into something powerful. I decided on the latter and my life’s work began. I took the first available DONA Birth Doula Training and was certified within a year. I also certified to become a Lactation Counselor. I slowly began my career as a Birth Doula and CLC as I raised my son and became the mother of another boy. Now, as my two children are 7 and 4 years old, I consider myself a full-time Birth Doula, taking one to two clients a month.

Over the past six years, I’ve really honed in on my ideal client and how I can best support them. My practice is holistic and I try to fully support my clients both mentally and physically. Through my own experience, I learned that birth is just as much mental, if not more than physical. You need to trust your body, your baby and the process of birth. You were made to birth your baby.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My career as a Birth Doula has not always been a smooth road. Being a stay-at-home mom to my two boys has always been my priority, and sometimes I’ve had to put my career on hold. Finding the balance between being there for them and living life on call has been tough. But after six years, me and my family have learned what it looks like when I suddenly need to leave for 12 or even 36 hours to be at a birth. I make sure to take time off so I don’t miss special moments like my kid’s birthdays or Christmas, and we sneak in fun family vacations.

We’ve been impressed with HudMama Holistic Birth, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a Certified Birth Doula through DONA International and a Certified Lactation Counselor through the Healthy Children’s Center for Breastfeeding. As a Birth Doula, I take a holistic approach to supporting my clients. Prenatally, I work with them to discover their fears of childbirth, so that they can feel confident when they go into labor. My goal is for my clients to have a positive and empowering birth experience.

I offer birth doula support, lactation services and birth photography on a sliding scale. That means you can choose a fee that works within your financial situation. I believe everyone who wants a doula should be able to have one, no matter their financial circumstance.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
As a sixth-generation Colorado native, I love a lot of what Denver has to offer. Denver has the big city feeling without being a really big city. If you need to escape, it’s a quick drive to the mountains. There is so much history from the Old West but things also stay current and advanced. Here, you can be encouraged to live the lifestyle you want without judgment.

Having lived here my whole life, it’s hard to get used to crowds in once desolate places and traffic everywhere you go. One day I’ll adjust my drive times to be realistic for our growing city!

Pricing:

• Birth Doula Support $1,000 – $1,500
• Birth Photography $300
• Lactation Support $75

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hudmamabirth.com 

Image Credits
HudMama Holistic Birth, LLC Andrea Rae Photography